Great Valley School Board OK's Hybrid Reopening Plan

MALVERN, PA — The Great Valley Board of School Directors approved a plan for reopening schools that will apply a hybrid model of in-school and online class, with well defined health and safety protocols, and which offers a fully virtual school option.

In a long Aug. 3 meeting open for discussion of the plan's details, more than 600 viewers were still attending on YouTube after nearly 4 hours, as the GVSB prepared to vote. The board approved the proposed hybrid instructional plan 9-0.

The approved plan can be viewed here.

Between Aug. 4 and Aug. 12, families are asked to complete a survey and select their instruction option for fall, either the hybrid plan that includes in-school class time, or the fully virtual model.

One of six families has already communicated a preference for fully online school. District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Goffredo said in the meeting that families of nearly 600 students have already expressed a preference for the all-virtual school option. "That's 16-17 percent of our students," Goffredo said. But, about 900 families to date have said their children could attend in-person school, the superintendent reported.

School board member Rachel Gallegos told parents in the YouTube meeting, "We see you, we hear you." She said the board was working very hard to balance the needs and interests of the families in the district.

In addition to the approval of the hybrid instructional plan for the 2020-21 school year, the board tabled its vote on an athletic reopening plan. Discussion of athletic logistics for distancing, heat training, and no-contact competition was lengthy and the details difficult to reconcile with a green, yellow, or red plan. The school board expects to vote on an athletic reopening plan in its next meeting. The board also unanimously approved three service contracts.

On Monday, Aug. 17 the school board will meet at 7:30 p.m. The Great Valley school board will present data gathered from family responses along with any revisions or clarifications to the Health and Safety Plan for Reopening.

An in-person meeting planned at this time, provided indoor gathering restrictions are lifted, district administration said.

The full Aug. 3 meeting may be viewed here.